Most Online Business Owners answer to this question would be that their Web Sites purpose is to create a "presence" for their product, service, business, or practice, on the Internet.

To this I would respond that creating a "presence" on the Internet in and of itself will not add to their bottom line, and to think it would do otherwise....would be a waste of their time and money.

Instead, there must be a strong call to action generated from your web site that will guide every visitor to your "Desired Result", be it.... Getting The Order, Getting The Subscriber, or Getting The Lead.

Decide first what it is you want your visitor to do while they are at your site, then design your site to accomplish this "Desired Result".

For instance if it is imperative to your business to sell products and services from your web site, then you must have an order page and/or shopping cart.

If it's important for your business to sign up subscribers, then your site must have a sign up form on every page, and an autoresponder which is set up to send a welcome message within minutes of the visitor signing up.

If your product is best sold one and one and it's important to have the visitor call you directly, then you must have a toll free number available for them to use, or a form where they can enter their phone number so that you can follow up.

Perhaps you want to have your visitor listen to a message from you while they are on your site, then you must have audio available, and instructions on how to use it.

Or maybe you need the visitor to order your catalog, then you must have a 800 number, or email address available for them to do so.

In a nutshell the purpose of your web site will be to get one of the following "Desired Results":

* GET THE ORDER * GET THE SUBSCRIBER * GET THE LEAD

With the suitable purpose in mind, you can design your web site to achieve your "Desired Result". There is absolutely no point in having your web site online and paying for a web host if your site does not achieve the "Desired Result" (most of the time).

Let's assume that the purpose of your web site ("Desired Result") is to get an order. Here's what to look for in your web site design:

1. Does your web site content (sales letter, ad copy) lead the visitor naturally and directly to your order page?

2. Does your order page allow the visitor to pay securely by credit card, personal online check, through the mail or by phone?

3. Does the navigation on your web site lead the visitor easily to your order page and back to the sales content?

4. Is your content benefit rich? Does it lead the visitor through your sales message wanting them to know more? Do you have "joiner's" such as arrows or ellipses at the end of each page urging the visitor to continue?

5. Is the font you are using easy to read? (black type on white background) Is the placement of the content easy on the eyes?( plenty of white space on each page) Does your font scream at your visitor or intelligently inform?

6. Are your graphics pertinent to the sales message? Do they load quickly? Will they distract the visitor? Will they annoy the visitor? Do you really need them?

7. Are your web sites color combinations soothing on the eyes?

8. Do you have your contact information on your web site, making it easy for your visitor to reach you?

9. How about a pop up real time customer service window?

10.Do you offer guarantees and/or free trials and prominently display satisfied customer's testimonials for the "not so ready to buy" visitor to see?

Anything less than the above effort will fall short of achieving your "Desired Result", and you will lose the visitor and the sale each and every time.

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